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Alterman’s Gambit Guide: Blackburne Shilling Gambit

Opening: C50: King's pawn game

Player(s):

Joseph Blackburne (1841-1924) was one of the world’s best players, and he had a 50-year career as one of the strongest-ever British players. But to supplement his meagre tournament prizes “The Black Death” played hundreds of simultaneous displays against amateurs. To cut through the simul fodder he deployed some outrageous openings - the most infamous being Blackburne’s Shilling Gambit (1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Nd4?!) , the maestro’s standard fee for a game. Even in the 21st century Blackburne’s trick is still racking up the victims . And in a one-off series of GM Boris Alterman’s Gambit Guide, our gambit guru takes a look at the Shilling Gambit - which, while not entirely sound, is a great surprise weapon for (online) blitz play